Just want to spread the watch about a cool campaign that is going on the expose Exxon.
.....
Check out a great new (short) cartoon about oil giant ExxonMobil: http://www.ExxposeExxon.com/movie
It's short and funny and if you click on the link at the end youcan send an email to ExxonMobil's brand-new CEO, Rex Tillerson,asking him to change the company's course before it's too lateto stop global warming (2005 was the warmest year on record!)The Washington Post reports that climate scientists not only allagree that global warming is real, now their concern is whetherwe're too late to stop it from spiraling out of control - scarystuff!http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/28/AR2006012801021.html?referrer=emailarticle
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD about this opportunity to influence the new CEO by sharing the cartoon with your friends.
http://www.ExxposeExxon.com/movie
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söndag 18 november 2007
lördag 10 november 2007
Green Party of Sweden's Climate Campaign
Translated from Swedish to English by Sam Edgecombe. For the text in Swedish see here
--
It's Time to Act Now
The changes that are happening to our planet is an burning issue for mankind. We need to take tough political actions in order to create a sustainable society.
Up to now, the climate debate has been about making changes as an individual, for example recycling, buying environmentally friendly cars and not buying bottled water. Many people want to help to create a better climate and want to take responsibility for coming generations. The Green Party wants to give more people the chance to live more a climate-friendly life.
In order to significantly reduce the emissions that affect our climate, we need to take extensive political action. There needs to be investments made in; sustainable transportation, new and upgraded railways, new low-energy buildings, and a conversion to renewable energy sources. It also must be easier for you to be more climate-friendly in your everyday life.
It's a common undertaking - the politicians will do their part - so that individuals will be able to change their lifestyles more easily.
What is needed are tough, and sometimes uncomfortable, political decisions in order to reach the goal of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 40 % by the year 2020. We're running out of time. It's time to act now.
The Green Party of Sweden wants to
- double railway capacity by the year 2020
- Invest greatly in renewable energy - biogas, wind power, solar power etc.
- increase taxes on all fossil-based fuels
- increased benefits to the building of climate-smart houses etc.
Reform Transportation
The transportation of goods and humans has a great effect upon the climate and the environment. We need to have a rethink. Of course we are going to need to transport people and goods in the future, but in a different way. A way that favours the economy and the climate. It's not harder, not worse, just different.
The Green Party's Goals.
- The release of fossil-based carbon dioxide will be halved by 2020
- Rail transport will double by 2020
- Lorry transport will be reduced by at least a third
- Local public transport will be tripled by 2020
- We will walk and cycle twice as much as today.
The Green Party's goal is to significantly increase the fraction of rail, sea and public transportation by 2020 in order to reduce oil-dependent transportation methods. Transportation must be more effective and be driven by renewable fuels.
Rail has a central role in the future of transportation. Rail has superior environmental qualities. The release of carbon dioxide and the usage of energy by other transportation methods is many times higher compared to rail. A car with two passengers uses up three to four times as much energy compared to using the train. The energy cost of using lorries compared to the train to transport goods is three to five times as great. A plane uses up six to eight times more energy.
Within the freight transportation sector, goods that must be transported longer than 150-300 km must be transported by rail and sea instead of by road as is the case today. In the case of the person transport, the greatest changes can be made when transporting people within and between cities. Here, the conditions are right to create more effective public transport. Many short car journeys should be replaced by going by foot or by bike. This would not only improve the environment, but also our health.
Reform Construction and Industry
Today, our houses and buildings release too much carbon dioxide. New buildings must be built with a minimum of effect on the climate. Existing buildings need to be renovated such that the climate effect from buildings can be further reduced.
The Green Party's Goals
- 75% of all new buildings should be low-energy buildings by 2020
- Renovate buildings that were built during the Swedish building boom (known as the "million programme"). The cost of renovation will be quickly regained in savings made from reduced energy costs.
- A halving in energy usage for buildings built before 1980
- Industry must be more energy-effective as regards processes and products
Renovating buildings is a necessity in order to reduce carbon dioxide outputs. New housing can be built using only a fraction of the huge energy costs of today's housing.
The Green Party demands stricter building standards for new housing. At the same time, we need to take substantial action on the housing that already exists. Over the next few years, a large portion of Sweden's houses will need to be renovated, not least in the areas built during the "million programme". By renovating in a climate-friendly way, the costs of renovation can be kept low.
There are examples of renovation projects where the projected energy saving is roughly 60%. It is possible to achieve similar results elsewhere. Our goal, a 50% reduction of energy use, is an achieveable national goal for buildings built before 1980.
Heavy Swedish industry has been built up upon low electricity and fuel prices. In the future energy costs will most probably rise. If the forestry, mining and steel industries are to survive the competition then a switch to more energy effective processes and energy-smart products is needed.
Reform the Energy Sector
Fossil fuels make up too great a part of our energy needs. This is not sustainable in the long run. Both because fossil fuels are being used up but also because they give out too much carbon dioxide.
The Green Party's Goals
- Wind power in Sweden should be increased 30 times to at least 30 TWh by 2020
- A price guarantee should be introduced on energy from wind and solar energy.
- The use of green-taxes should be used in order to make sure that the use of bio-fuels increases.
- Increase the use of solar-heating to at least 4 TWh by 2020.
Wind-power should be drastically increased to at least 30 TWh in Sweden by year 2020 compared to almost 1 TWh today. In Germany, despite the fact that they have a higher population and shorter coastline, energy output from wind-power has already reached 30 TWh. We in Sweden should also be able to manage this. In order to accelerate the building of wind-power, we would like to introduce a price guarantee on electricity from wind-power.
Those incentives that the Green Party has stimulated has meant that the use of bio-fuels has increased massively. Bio-fuels increased from 1990 to 2005 with 45 TWh and this increase is expected to continue.
We want to continue to stimulate the use of bio-fuels by daring to introduce green-taxes that limit the use of coal and oil and favour renewable energy.
We want a national plan for biogas so that one can fill up using biogas from anywhere in the country. For those who want to produce small scale renewable energy, new, simpler rules need to be in place.
We also want to see more solar power by, for example, putting solar panels of buildings build during the "million programme". We also want to invest in a solar-power field in order to produce remote heating to homes. The state should invest one billion Swedish crowns with a goal to producing 4 TWh from solar power by 2020.
--
It's Time to Act Now
The changes that are happening to our planet is an burning issue for mankind. We need to take tough political actions in order to create a sustainable society.
Up to now, the climate debate has been about making changes as an individual, for example recycling, buying environmentally friendly cars and not buying bottled water. Many people want to help to create a better climate and want to take responsibility for coming generations. The Green Party wants to give more people the chance to live more a climate-friendly life.
In order to significantly reduce the emissions that affect our climate, we need to take extensive political action. There needs to be investments made in; sustainable transportation, new and upgraded railways, new low-energy buildings, and a conversion to renewable energy sources. It also must be easier for you to be more climate-friendly in your everyday life.
It's a common undertaking - the politicians will do their part - so that individuals will be able to change their lifestyles more easily.
What is needed are tough, and sometimes uncomfortable, political decisions in order to reach the goal of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases by 40 % by the year 2020. We're running out of time. It's time to act now.
The Green Party of Sweden wants to
- double railway capacity by the year 2020
- Invest greatly in renewable energy - biogas, wind power, solar power etc.
- increase taxes on all fossil-based fuels
- increased benefits to the building of climate-smart houses etc.
Reform Transportation
The transportation of goods and humans has a great effect upon the climate and the environment. We need to have a rethink. Of course we are going to need to transport people and goods in the future, but in a different way. A way that favours the economy and the climate. It's not harder, not worse, just different.
The Green Party's Goals.
- The release of fossil-based carbon dioxide will be halved by 2020
- Rail transport will double by 2020
- Lorry transport will be reduced by at least a third
- Local public transport will be tripled by 2020
- We will walk and cycle twice as much as today.
The Green Party's goal is to significantly increase the fraction of rail, sea and public transportation by 2020 in order to reduce oil-dependent transportation methods. Transportation must be more effective and be driven by renewable fuels.
Rail has a central role in the future of transportation. Rail has superior environmental qualities. The release of carbon dioxide and the usage of energy by other transportation methods is many times higher compared to rail. A car with two passengers uses up three to four times as much energy compared to using the train. The energy cost of using lorries compared to the train to transport goods is three to five times as great. A plane uses up six to eight times more energy.
Within the freight transportation sector, goods that must be transported longer than 150-300 km must be transported by rail and sea instead of by road as is the case today. In the case of the person transport, the greatest changes can be made when transporting people within and between cities. Here, the conditions are right to create more effective public transport. Many short car journeys should be replaced by going by foot or by bike. This would not only improve the environment, but also our health.
Reform Construction and Industry
Today, our houses and buildings release too much carbon dioxide. New buildings must be built with a minimum of effect on the climate. Existing buildings need to be renovated such that the climate effect from buildings can be further reduced.
The Green Party's Goals
- 75% of all new buildings should be low-energy buildings by 2020
- Renovate buildings that were built during the Swedish building boom (known as the "million programme"). The cost of renovation will be quickly regained in savings made from reduced energy costs.
- A halving in energy usage for buildings built before 1980
- Industry must be more energy-effective as regards processes and products
Renovating buildings is a necessity in order to reduce carbon dioxide outputs. New housing can be built using only a fraction of the huge energy costs of today's housing.
The Green Party demands stricter building standards for new housing. At the same time, we need to take substantial action on the housing that already exists. Over the next few years, a large portion of Sweden's houses will need to be renovated, not least in the areas built during the "million programme". By renovating in a climate-friendly way, the costs of renovation can be kept low.
There are examples of renovation projects where the projected energy saving is roughly 60%. It is possible to achieve similar results elsewhere. Our goal, a 50% reduction of energy use, is an achieveable national goal for buildings built before 1980.
Heavy Swedish industry has been built up upon low electricity and fuel prices. In the future energy costs will most probably rise. If the forestry, mining and steel industries are to survive the competition then a switch to more energy effective processes and energy-smart products is needed.
Reform the Energy Sector
Fossil fuels make up too great a part of our energy needs. This is not sustainable in the long run. Both because fossil fuels are being used up but also because they give out too much carbon dioxide.
The Green Party's Goals
- Wind power in Sweden should be increased 30 times to at least 30 TWh by 2020
- A price guarantee should be introduced on energy from wind and solar energy.
- The use of green-taxes should be used in order to make sure that the use of bio-fuels increases.
- Increase the use of solar-heating to at least 4 TWh by 2020.
Wind-power should be drastically increased to at least 30 TWh in Sweden by year 2020 compared to almost 1 TWh today. In Germany, despite the fact that they have a higher population and shorter coastline, energy output from wind-power has already reached 30 TWh. We in Sweden should also be able to manage this. In order to accelerate the building of wind-power, we would like to introduce a price guarantee on electricity from wind-power.
Those incentives that the Green Party has stimulated has meant that the use of bio-fuels has increased massively. Bio-fuels increased from 1990 to 2005 with 45 TWh and this increase is expected to continue.
We want to continue to stimulate the use of bio-fuels by daring to introduce green-taxes that limit the use of coal and oil and favour renewable energy.
We want a national plan for biogas so that one can fill up using biogas from anywhere in the country. For those who want to produce small scale renewable energy, new, simpler rules need to be in place.
We also want to see more solar power by, for example, putting solar panels of buildings build during the "million programme". We also want to invest in a solar-power field in order to produce remote heating to homes. The state should invest one billion Swedish crowns with a goal to producing 4 TWh from solar power by 2020.
fredag 21 september 2007
Swedish Government Increases Research Budget, but it's Not Enough
In it's budget proposal for 2008, the Swedish Research Minister, Lars Leijonborg, has promised an extra 300 million Swedish Crowns (SEK) to go to research and will divided up according to the Swedish Science Council's (VR) prioritizations.
For researchers is the increase in money that they can apply for valuable, but it's far too little and the proposal that VR should divide up the money puts even more pressure on researchers to compete with each other which can have negative effects. One of the negative effects of competition is that to much time is spent on grant writing, time that should be spent on more important things, such as research, or simply give researchers more time to reflect over their research. The increase in funds is so small that it's almost funny and in my opinion, it's still not enough.
The government's aim of increasing the quality of research that it's country produces is in itself not a bad thing. The alternative being that one has an aim of just producing results for the sake of producing results, i.e., a quantity arguement, but in my opinion, this is the wrong way of going about it.
In my opinion, money should be given directly to the faculties where research is being conducted, who should then be left to decide how to use the money to do the thing that they are best at, research. A universities internal quality control methods should allow for high quality research without the hassle and time-wasting that is goes into grant writing today. Once every 4 or 5 years the government could conduct an external quality review to see if the system is working as it should.
In short my arguement for this method would be "More time for research and less for grant-writing"
Read the goverment's budget factsheet for it's Higher Education Budget 2008
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/08/82/73/a52a57fb.pdf
For researchers is the increase in money that they can apply for valuable, but it's far too little and the proposal that VR should divide up the money puts even more pressure on researchers to compete with each other which can have negative effects. One of the negative effects of competition is that to much time is spent on grant writing, time that should be spent on more important things, such as research, or simply give researchers more time to reflect over their research. The increase in funds is so small that it's almost funny and in my opinion, it's still not enough.
The government's aim of increasing the quality of research that it's country produces is in itself not a bad thing. The alternative being that one has an aim of just producing results for the sake of producing results, i.e., a quantity arguement, but in my opinion, this is the wrong way of going about it.
In my opinion, money should be given directly to the faculties where research is being conducted, who should then be left to decide how to use the money to do the thing that they are best at, research. A universities internal quality control methods should allow for high quality research without the hassle and time-wasting that is goes into grant writing today. Once every 4 or 5 years the government could conduct an external quality review to see if the system is working as it should.
In short my arguement for this method would be "More time for research and less for grant-writing"
Read the goverment's budget factsheet for it's Higher Education Budget 2008
http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/08/82/73/a52a57fb.pdf
onsdag 19 september 2007
Swedish Government Wrong to Reduce number of Places in Higher Education
Recently the Swedish government has decided to give more money to higher education. Hooray I hear you cry? However, I agree more with the view voiced by "The Swedish Confederation for Professional Employees" who added to the debate by saying that the reduction of places at Higher Education will more than likely disuage students from non-academic backgrounds to apply to Higher Education therefore increasing the gaps that already exist in society. (see http://www.tco.se/templates/Data____6100.aspx in Swedish). Agreed that one should not only look to produce graduates en masse just for the sake of it, but it's can hardly be a goal of Swedish society to increase inequality and decrease the opportunity for the underpriveliged to go on to Higher Education and broaden their minds. I give a big thumbs down to the Swedish Government. Anyone agree?
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